Reading Protects the Brain! It Really IS Good For You
Parents frequently try to get their children to read by telling them “how good†that activity is for them. Of course, children aren’t much influenced by the message. They see it primarily as a “sell job†to get them to do something they do not want to do.
But now a study of lead smelter workers provides evidence that what the parents have been saying actually has merit.
It’s long been known that lead does some nasty things to the brain and nervous system. . So workers whose livelihood brings them into steady contact with lead have to deal with serious problems. But as the study-- reported in the journal Neurology--found, if certain skills are well-established, they seem to be resistant to the effects of lead exposure. Reading ability is one of those skills.
In the research, over 100 workers were divided according to reading ability into two ability groups—high and low. "Even though the two groups had similar lead exposure, the cognitive effects of lead were 2.5 times greater in workers with low reading ability.â€
The investigators concluded that well-established reading ability is based upon a much richer neural network that offers a “protective effect.†Even if parts of the system “go down,†there are enough parts remaining to allow the system to continue to function at a high level.
Of course, even this dramatic evidence may not have much impact on the reading habits of today’s youngsters. But it does have powerful implications for what we adults should be doing. We must ensure that the children acquire rock-solid reading abilities that will stay strong, regardless of environmental stresses and strains they may encounter in their lives.
The best way to achieve this is to get the children reading early and reading well. Few would disagree with this statement. The problem rests with its realization. With our nation's schools regularly reporting failure rates of about 40%, it is clear that this institution is not going to provide the outcomes that we need and desire.
Hopefully, schools will change. But until they do, parents must assume this responsibility. That is why I have devoted so much of my time and effort into creating user-friendly programs that can be implemented at home. They are designed to offer parents all the materials that will allow them to impart the gift of truly skilled literacy to their children.
